Is going 55 mph really the best speed?

[fatlard]

I know many of you expressed going 55 mph the best speed but is that really the optimal point if you want to keep up with traffic while at the same time getting decent fuel economy

[frownonfun]

i know it's not the optimal speed if your goal is to ALSO keep up with traffic. not in a 70mph zone anyway. i have a scooter that tops out at about 55-60 and i've had it out on the highway a few times. it's downright terrifying.

[malibuguy]

its the best mileage parked in your driveway while you ride a bicycle...

[thebarber]

you want the lowest speed in the highest gear....

best mileage i ever got was 5.5L/100km (43mpg) while doing about 80-85km/h (50mph) on back roads in 5th gear. i accelerated slowly and downshifted while slowing down so the injectors don't run (vs neutral)

this was all during my 1000km engine break-in period...

ive never got that great an economy since, lol

[2009Toyotoad]

Thought I read elsewhere on the forum that 68 mph was the optimal speed. That's usually my commute speed at 5:00 A.M. and 2:30 P.M. and the mpg is consistently 40.5 to 41.5.

edit: I'm feeling a little inspired this week, particularly today. I noted that today was "ride your bicycle to work day," and while that's not practical for me, running 55 mph during my commute was a resonable alternative. Looking forward to seeing my mpg numbers for the week.

[STC]

Maybe President Jimmy Carter knew what he was talking about? Eh? Of course he did... and it saves lives too! :wink:

Cheers! :smile:

[rningonfumes]

LOL, going 55 with no metal cage around you will terrifying to anyone if cars are constantly passing you up.

Look if you want to do it, go ahead you'll get used to it, the fear of being hit will subside. Think about it this way, if you wouldn't want your front end hitting the back end of another car, why would other drivers want any different? Those drivers breathing down your ass won't want anything happening to their precious cars.

The argument about holding up traffic? I consider it null as along as you're on the far right on a major multi lane freeway. If a driver has a problem with not being able to use the far right to pass cars, the driver has problem because the far right is not a passing lane.

Basically do everything you can to help out the flow. I've notice that if the flow is high, the freeway is most likely open and there's room for people to pass on the left. If the flow is slow, there must be congestion, speeds as a whole are low. When traffic is high with high speeds? People like to travel in packs, that current pack of cars will pass soon enough.

Edit:

Use psychology, I've said this before to follow a truck, not for drafting purposes but to make people think it's the truck that is slow. People will see the truck before they see you and will prepare to pass you.

[SKurj]

Until this past winter I was always in the fast lane always 120-140kmh and over the winter months rarely getting more than 550kms to a tank. This winter I backed it off, kept speeds 110ish and 650kms per tank has been rather easily accomplished, sometimes closing on 700kms...

Thats with the 04 echo HB which has 258,000kms on it... The new Yaris seems to be around the same mebbe a tiny bit better

[fatlard]

Well at cruise control at 55mph with a sedan auto have given 47mpg.... I guess I will stay at that speed

[why?]

55 was never the best speed for anything. It is really relative to a ton of stuff, and finding what is best for you takes time and lots of experimenting.

[Idahotom]

My main drive is a 45 mph secondary road I drive at 47 (cruise set) and on the few level stretchs my ScanGauge always shows very high 40's MPG. Low 50's if I have a tailwind!

[fatlard]

So.. this past weekend, I drove 70mph on cruise control this weekend for about 200 miles and I got 45 mpg... so I am as confused as ever.... just more data.

[daf62757]

So.. this past weekend, I drove 70mph on cruise control this weekend for about 200 miles and I got 45 mpg... so I am as confused as ever.... just more data.

Could have been you had a great tailwind....flat terrain....or your Yaris was just in the "zone"!

[daf62757]

Maybe President Jimmy Carter knew what he was talking about? Eh? Of course he did... and it saves lives too! :wink:

Cheers! :smile:

Jimmy Carter? Wow...now I am going to have nightmares! :eek::eek::eek:

[daf62757]

I know many of you expressed going 55 mph the best speed but is that really the optimal point if you want to keep up with traffic while at the same time getting decent fuel economy

Here in Indiana, on the interstates, you would be a road hazard. You would save money, but it actually wouldn't be safe. 65 MPH is a better speed here for safety and it lets you keep up with the 18 wheelers.

Maybe on a state highway its a safe speed, but in too many places, you are an obstacle that people have to go around.

[BEEF]

looking at it strictly scientifically

I have seen graphs on aerodynamic drag that show there is a deflection point where drag increases sharply. the sharp increase is usually between 50 and 60 mph depending on the aerodynamics of the particular vehicle. I know I saw one that showed the optimum for a vehicle being 53MPH. I can't remember what vehicle was tested but I do remember it being old.

that may be where the whole 55MPH thing came from. it gives you the most speed for the least amount of drag.

there again, I may be reading way too much into the question.

[TLyttle]

Somehow, it is the "saving lives" thing that got me. What was it? 40%? What a bonus, even if the percentage is wrong! Nowadays, the cars are keeping the numbers of deaths down, not the drivers: speed limits keep climbing, and US oil dependency follows suit.

Keep up to busy traffic, play P&G when one is on one's own, or whatever fuel-saving game one is into. Myself, I feel that I am driving one of the most fuel-efficent vehicles around, and the savings by hypermiling really ain't gonna make a big difference, considering how much fuel I COULD be burning...

[frownonfun]

I hate to burst anyone's bubble but there is no real solid data that shows that having a national 55mph speed limit saved lives. Not only can it be shown that there were less annual deaths in some years before the Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act was enacted but you also have to consider that even in the years there were fewer deaths during that period there were also less people on the road to begin with because of the oil crisis that prompted the passing of the EHECA in the first place.

Just sayin.

[schume]

looking at it strictly scientifically

I have seen graphs on aerodynamic drag that show there is a deflection point where drag increases sharply. the sharp increase is usually between 50 and 60 mph depending on the aerodynamics of the particular vehicle. I know I saw one that showed the optimum for a vehicle being 53MPH. I can't remember what vehicle was tested but I do remember it being old.

that may be where the whole 55MPH thing came from. it gives you the most speed for the least amount of drag.

there again, I may be reading way too much into the question.When I worked in HVAC, I came across fan law which can be translated to cars. http://www.hvac-toolbox.com/fan-affinity-laws-d_196.html

Aerodynamic drag and engine power needed changes exponentially with an increase in speed. That's why you can't regear a stock Yaris and go 200mph or use hypermiling techniques doing 90. (and expect anything good)

Speed kills.... fuel economy at least :)

[tire]

you want the lowest speed in the highest gear...
this is correct, for any motor vehicle. anything short of bogging the motor will be ideal for fuel economy.

[joe keeney]

55 you'll get flatten by a pick up down here,

[PROX4x4]

I got 45.1 Doing 55-60 MPH, no cruise control.

[joe keeney]

55 not in texas you'll be a hood ornament on a pick up,

[charles nelson]

I average consistently mid-40s mpg while driving at 50 mph.
If there is no wind, the Yaris gets about 50 mpg at 50 mph. Mileage drops to about 40 mpg at 70 mph. At 30 mph I get high 50's mpg.
With a strong head wind I loose about 10 mpg.

[Ilovemyyaris]

I go about 55 plus or minus all the time. I generally get at least 40 or more mpg. Normally about 45 - 50 mpg if it's just highway.

People hate me for it though. Sometimes people honk, middle fingers, angry red necks shouting out the window, and etc. Not sure what's so hard about using the other lane for to pass. I've even seen some other people driving the Yaris wizz past me. Am I the only person who lives in GA who knows about this?

Sometimes I follow big rigs if I need to get somewhere faster. I don't do that much because I heard it's dangerous. Just wondering. Anyone know why exactly they say it's dangerous? As long as you're not right up on them. Doesn't it take them a lot longer to come to a stop than a small car?

[rningonfumes]

Well along with the stopping issues, trucks tend to kick up things real easily and there is also the possibility of a tire blow out. I see what you mean about the stopping but the latter two is what keeps me from drafting, that and truckers hate it.

LoL, at certain times while on the highway some truckers think I'm drafting them so they slow down to 55 or even 50 to try to shake me off. They don't realize I don't want to speed up.

One other point is that sometimes there is debris on the road that is nothing for a truck to run over but it might be too large for your car to handle. So if you are drafting you won't see this object and will not have time to avoid it.

[badmofo]

I drive the speed limit (60) to and from work, 70 miles total, all highway. I don't draft, I coast downhills, I use DFCO down steeper hills and when coming to a stop, Accelerate slowly. I've found it's not one thing you do to increase fuel mileage but a combination that gives the best results.

[Cosworth]

i haven't found a magic speed that would allow me the highest mileage... having said that I get better mileage when I drive between 55-63mph in 5th gear. At this range, I get anywhere from 45-55 instant mpg according to ecometer. At 70mph, I usually get at least 41mpg on average.

[marcus]

47 mpg going 90 kph ; 55 mph 90% of the time fully loaded with a/c

[caineroad]

47 mpg going 90 kph ; 55 mph 90% of the time fully loaded with a/c

there must be something wrong with your mpg meter or your calculation.

better yet tell us how many km or miles you can do in a full tank of gas.

im in canada, in my yaris full tank of gas 600km is pretty much top highway driving. That equals 41-42 US mpg

unless you can cover 800km in a full tank, how is 55 US mpg possible?


But conversion from 42 US mpg = 50 UK mpg are you referring to uk units?

[rningonfumes]

^ This year I've hit 522.9 (841.5km) miles on 9.877 Gallons. I've hit the magic 500 a couple more times this summer season.

55mph/no drafting(truckers usually are faster)/lots of highway/I like the down hills (you infer what you want).

If I'm alone, no A/C ever- just 1 inch down on both front windows. If I have passengers, I make them comfortable- only complaints I get is I drive too slow. Even my parents tell me to drive faster if they are the passengers.

[caineroad]

^ This year I've hit 522.9 (841.5km) miles on 9.877 Gallons. I've hit the magic 500 a couple more times this summer season.

55mph/no drafting(truckers usually are faster)/lots of highway/I like the down hills (you infer what you want).

If I'm alone, no A/C ever- just 1 inch down on both front windows. If I have passengers, I make them comfortable- only complaints I get is I drive too slow. Even my parents tell me to drive faster if they are the passengers.

841km wow.... impressive

manual tranny works better?

[rningonfumes]

Well, I like my 5speed. You don't have to have a manual for the mpg but it helps. There are people on YW who hit 50mpg quite readily who happen to have autos. What this means is it requires patience. The right weather does wonders as well.

[caineroad]

Say if we are doing the same run of 75miles, considering 55mph vs 75mph. I would finish in exactly 1 hour. Whereas you are saving gas but going slower your car would be running longer, 20 mins more, wouldn't that balance off fuel consumption? Let's say we are both on cruise controls and no a/c, drafting or whatever affecting the car.

[rningonfumes]

Apples to oranges? The only thing wasted here is time which I would need to account for ie leave sooner.

You traveled 75 miles at 75 mph
I traveled 75 miles at 55 mph.

This was more complicated than it needed to be but I'll play.

75 miles / 40 mpg = 1.75 gallons used.
75 miles / 50 mpg = 1.50 gallons used.

I'm being conservative on both sets of numbers.

Let's try it differently.

10 gallons x 40 mpg = 400 miles
10 gallons x 50 mpg = 500 miles.

I like these numbers, easier math lol. I went an extra 100 miles over you at the expense of time. Doesn't matter really for daily commutes but the time might build up if it's say a road trip.

[UltimateMonky]

I go about 55 plus or minus all the time. I generally get at least 40 or more mpg. Normally about 45 - 50 mpg if it's just highway.

People hate me for it though. Sometimes people honk, middle fingers, angry red necks shouting out the window, and etc. Not sure what's so hard about using the other lane for to pass. I've even seen some other people driving the Yaris wizz past me. Am I the only person who lives in GA who knows about this?

Sometimes I follow big rigs if I need to get somewhere faster. I don't do that much because I heard it's dangerous. Just wondering. Anyone know why exactly they say it's dangerous? As long as you're not right up on them. Doesn't it take them a lot longer to come to a stop than a small car?

I too live in Georgia and the thing I hate most here, and really most places I've driven, is passage ettiquite! When I have to take the 3 or so hour trek up to Atlanta on 16 it's like hell. People either just cruise at 65 in the left PASSING LANE without a care in the world or ride your ass when you're doing 76 or so in the right lane. As far as I'm concerned the left lane is just a passing lane and you shouldn't take your whole trip on it, it ruins the flow of traffic. Just my little rant!

[enviri]

hell i did 50 mph on the highway, with a slow moving crew of scions for 70 miles and i peaked out at 53.7mpg according to scangauge. I almost wanted to shoot myself, but it was great mileage. this coming from a guy that avgs about 80-90mph :)

[Bizlibati]

fifty five had been in no way the very best pace with regard to something. It really is in accordance with a lot of things, as well as discovering what's greatest for you personally requires period and a lot of experimentation.

[docB]

Even the government stats showed 55 didn't save lives or gas.

[TLyttle]

Where did THAT info come from?? Anything that I saw during that time (including actual stats) showed otherwise. I realise that 75 was slow and boring in Nevada and other states, but most of the fatalities there were caused by frustration, not excessive speed. What that says to me is that high-speed rail would be of more benefit than 75mph speed limits. Germany has it's Autoroutes, and the skidmarks on those highways tell of the hazards of driving at high speeds.

[viggen]

Germany has autobahns and there are no skid marks!

Lowest fatality and accident rate in the world. Anyone who lives North America should try it. Getting passed while doing 200 km/h feels priceless because you can hardly recognize the car that has passed you at 275 km/h.

My echo hb gets 5.5 l per 100km without much fuss:burnrubber::smile:

[TLyttle]

Sounds good, Viggen, but on my only trip on the Autobahn showed a few places where there were skidmarks, with a good sized hole in the shrubbery, ending with a divot in the farmland beyond. Nothing to do with crop circles, I assure you...

[detroiter]

Autobahn drivers have less fatalities while driving compared to Americans because they don't drive acting like the bigger and faster their car is, the bigger their weiner is...

[TLyttle]

Not true, detroiter. The licensing system there doesn't allow a high school nitwit to drive a Corvette equivalent. Better yet, they have to start out on scooters, in the city: only then do they learn to pay attention to something more than their own egos. Nothing like finding yourself in the middle of an intersection on your butt wondering what you did wrong. Much better. Much smarter.

It is not the road. It is not the vehicle. It is the driver, and his education. But apparently, everyone, regardless of age, has the right to drive, and drive anything they choose, and that is where the fatalities come from. Dear oh dear, just read the papers, or watch TV news to justify this!

[Ilovemyyaris]

I too live in Georgia and the thing I hate most here, and really most places I've driven, is passage ettiquite! When I have to take the 3 or so hour trek up to Atlanta on 16 it's like hell. People either just cruise at 65 in the left PASSING LANE without a care in the world or ride your ass when you're doing 76 or so in the right lane. As far as I'm concerned the left lane is just a passing lane and you shouldn't take your whole trip on it, it ruins the flow of traffic. Just my little rant!

Yep, before I started hypermiling I would go the speed limit and people would still ride my ass, sometimes I went about ~80mph when the speed limit was no more than 70 and people were still passing me.

It used to stress me out when people got mad at me going ~55 but now I find it funny. There was an incident with a really obnoxious driver from behind me coming from Atlanta a few nights back. I was doing my usual speed in the right lane. There wasn't much traffic and some lone orange car got behind me and turned his bright lights on as if he wanted me to speed up or move over or something so I let my foot off the gas and went a little slower "about ~50" just to show him I wasn't going to just speed up for him. Anyways so he got pissed and passed me honking his horn as he was passing. I really have no idea why people down here just don't get that there are other lanes to pass people if they want to waste their gas to speed off wherever they have to go.

Only time I'll speed up for impatient people is rush hour on the part of the highway where there is only two lanes just so be courteous because semi trucks get behind you and it takes longer for them to pass you and and it creates a long line of traffic.

[Uber_Otter]

Autobahn drivers have less fatalities while driving compared to Americans because they don't drive acting like the bigger and faster their car is, the bigger their weiner is...

The one key thing they do is "No tailgating" and "move your slow dumb ass over". The tailgating laws on the autobahn are very rigid and heavily enforced, so are the laws to yield to a driver going faster than you. The ticket fines vary because they are a Percentage of your annual income. That way it stings everyone equally.

Tailgate once, license suspended for 3 months + fines. Overtake on the right is forbidden. Drive slow in left lane and they shoot your car with a Old panzer tank.


Most accidents in the US could be avoided if the driver had more than 5 feet between them and the car in front of them. People who do the speed limit in the left lane cause most of the problems and accidents I see. You eliminate those and you have Autobahn safety stats.

[JumpmanYaris]

85 sound good right?:laugh:

[docB]

The the speed one travels is inversely proportional to the attention one gives to the driving task. At 55 you have a lot of time to look around and eat and talk on the phone. Try anything but driving at 140 mph!
doc

[charles nelson]

When your Yaris is going at 70 mph it has about 60% more energy than when going at 55mph. The vehicle has to absorb 60% more energy if you crash the car. I don't think that Toyota puts 60% more absorption technology into the Yaris to protect you at 70 mph versus 55mph. Maybe Mercedes does, but you certainly pay for it.

[charles nelson]

My '08 Yaris with AT, has a sweet spot at about 55-57 mph if there is no wind. On the flats, it gets 45-51 mpg. If there is a gentle tailwind I get about +5mpg. A gentle head wind: 5-10 mpg decrease. At 70 mph, my mileage drops into the high 30's. I have drafted behind semi's on the Interstate and gotten 57-67 mpg, but I don't like driving just a few feet behind a truck weighing more than 20 times my Yaris.

[alpha1]

55 mph if you want to keep up with traffic while at the same time getting decent fuel economy

i know it's not the optimal speed if your goal is to ALSO keep up with traffic. not in a 70mph zone anyway. it's downright terrifying.

Maybe President Jimmy Carter knew what he was talking about? Eh? Of course he did... and it saves lives too! :wink:

[QUOTE=charles nelson;627593]When your Yaris is going at 70 mph it has about 60% more energy than when going at 55mph. The vehicle has to absorb 60% more energy if you crash the car. I don't think that Toyota puts 60% more absorption technology into the Yaris to protect you at 70 mph versus 55mph. Maybe Mercedes does, but you certainly pay for it.

The airbag activation is usually essential for the high speed crash survival patient. I would not want to be in either the Yaris or Mercedes without airbags.

If working or traveling while at work, it is not economical to drive 55 in a 70 mile zone as it would cost you too much in lost productivity/wages vs. the price of the small amount of gas you would save.
Regardless of what you may have been told, you do not really have unlimited free time in life.

Speed does not kill. People kill.
Also all will die and none will be saved from this; regardless of how we :smile: drive.

[nookandcrannycar]

Germany has autobahns and there are no skid marks!

Lowest fatality and accident rate in the world. Anyone who lives North America should try it. Getting passed while doing 200 km/h feels priceless because you can hardly recognize the car that has passed you at 275 km/h.

My echo hb gets 5.5 l per 100km without much fuss:burnrubber::smile:

I've tried it, and I agree with your description. I think one reason that accident and fatality rates in Germany are much lower than many other countries is that it is harder to get your DL in Germany than it is in many other countries.

[Hershey]

50s' seem to be to the liking of the 1.5 ltr. with the 4 speed auto . Some interstate of 65 m.p.h. . I'd say average speed of 48 . After the picture , it lost the 1st bar at 92 miles . ECO is at 42 . Changed oil to SHELL synthetic 5w-20 last Saturday . Tires at 35 .

[nookandcrannycar]

When your Yaris is going at 70 mph it has about 60% more energy than when going at 55mph. The vehicle has to absorb 60% more energy if you crash the car. I don't think that Toyota puts 60% more absorption technology into the Yaris to protect you at 70 mph versus 55mph. Maybe Mercedes does, but you certainly pay for it.

:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap: Yet another reason (besides being cheap :biggrin:, and others) to drive 55.

[Absolutely Red 12]

The one key thing they do is "No tailgating" and "move your slow dumb ass over". The tailgating laws on the autobahn are very rigid and heavily enforced, so are the laws to yield to a driver going faster than you. The ticket fines vary because they are a Percentage of your annual income. That way it stings everyone equally.

Tailgate once, license suspended for 3 months + fines. Overtake on the right is forbidden. Drive slow in left lane and they shoot your car with a Old panzer tank.


Most accidents in the US could be avoided if the driver had more than 5 feet between them and the car in front of them. People who do the speed limit in the left lane cause most of the problems and accidents I see. You eliminate those and you have Autobahn safety stats.


You can't "drive" in the fast lane on the Autobahn.
It's there for you to pass, once done passing, you go back to the right lane.
No one will tailgate you in the right lane, they jus pass you!!

[charles nelson]

The 'sweet spot' for my 2008 auto Yaris is about 53 mph at a constant speed. With no wind I get about 47-49 mpg. The mileage drops off significantly at speeds above and below that. At Freeway speeds above 65mph my mileage never gets higher than 39 mpg.
I have gotten as high as 65 mpg with a 30 mph tail wind...mileage dropped to mid-30s on the return trip. Traveling at 70 mph with a 45mph headwind...the Yaris never got out of the high 20s.

[Idahotom]

I'm lucky that my most driven route can either be on an interstate (with little traffic) or a secondary road with a 45 mph limit that everyone drives 50. When on either about midway on the 14 mile drive there is a truck port of entry, more importantly there is a big flag. The way the weather systems work around here in this valley, the wind is either calm, or a direct tailwind or direct headwind.

I can look at the ScanGauge during my drive and before even seeing the flag, tell you what the wind is doing! I usually opt for the 45 mph route, and drive it on cruise at 47 to 50, and easily get the same numbers in mpg, in fact it gets a little confusing when glancing at the gauge as often both displays will match.

One day I had a strong tailwind from an approaching cold front, and hours later heading back also a tailwind due to the storm arrival. This netted me my as yet unbroken record of 70 MPG for my about 28 mile commute. My average for this route is mid 50's mpg.

[jayeh]

55 you'll get flatten by a pick up down here,

55 not in texas you'll be a hood ornament on a pick up,

Nah, Texans know how to drive. Here in Ontario that would be suicide. People use the right lane as the passing lane and the left lane as the right lane. If I drive 5-10 over the speed limit I'm being tailgated in the right lane!

When I was in Texas I was shocked by how many people were driving well below the speed limit. 55-65 on roads that were 65-80. Here I can set my cruise control at 10km/hr over the speed limit and not pass a single car for hundreds of km, but get passed by everyone like I'm standing still.

Not true, detroiter. The licensing system there doesn't allow a high school nitwit to drive a Corvette equivalent. Better yet, they have to start out on scooters, in the city: only then do they learn to pay attention to something more than their own egos. Nothing like finding yourself in the middle of an intersection on your butt wondering what you did wrong. Much better. Much smarter.

It is not the road. It is not the vehicle. It is the driver, and his education. But apparently, everyone, regardless of age, has the right to drive, and drive anything they choose, and that is where the fatalities come from. Dear oh dear, just read the papers, or watch TV news to justify this!

You say that like giving a 16 year old a supercar or a giant truck is a bad idea or something :laugh:

[Hershey]

Did a fill this evening of SUNOCO 87 w/E10 ( 8.752 gals. @ 1 click ) and got 41.36 m.p.g. overall . The gas was MOBIL 87 w/E10 . Tires at 35 p.s.i.. Many steep hills , some interstate , and city . Conditions were windy , wet on occasion , and some cold mornings . Two people for over 1/2 of the tank ( 362 mis. ) . Overall average probably about 49 m.p.h.. Don't pamper it all that much .

[nookandcrannycar]

Nah, Texans know how to drive. Here in Ontario that would be suicide. People use the right lane as the passing lane and the left lane as the right lane. If I drive 5-10 over the speed limit I'm being tailgated in the right lane!

When I was in Texas I was shocked by how many people were driving well below the speed limit. 55-65 on roads that were 65-80. Here I can set my cruise control at 10km/hr over the speed limit and not pass a single car for hundreds of km, but get passed by everyone like I'm standing still.



You say that like giving a 16 year old a supercar or a giant truck is a bad idea or something :laugh:

I normally drive 55-60, sometimes 63-65 on the freeway, but always in the right lane and only if the freeway is 3+ lanes in each direction. If the freeway is only 2 lanes in each direction, I'll drive the limit in the right lane. In the Houston metro the freeway speed limits are usually 60 and 65. There might be a few places where it's 55 and a few where it's 70. Outside of metro areas the speed limit on freeways is 70 in some places and 75 in others except where it's 80 (from i think it's mile marker 61 to mile marker 491) on I-10 and possibly a few other places....and of course the new raised limit of 85 on a toll road between Austin and San Antonio.

[charles nelson]

A couple of additional comments. Popular Mechanics Mag found that slow accelerations do not give as good mileage as a fast acceleration. Faster acceleration puts you into highest gears sooner, and the best mileage. My Toyota mechanic told me that his 'average' customers are getting higher mileage with the auto trans than 5 speed manual stick. It appears that the transmission computer is better at setting the optimal combination of speed and gear ratio. Experienced drivers using manual do get better mileage than even the computer.

[nookandcrannycar]

I normally drive 55-60, sometimes 63-65 on the freeway, but always in the right lane and only if the freeway is 3+ lanes in each direction. If the freeway is only 2 lanes in each direction, I'll drive the limit in the right lane. In the Houston metro the freeway speed limits are usually 60 and 65. There might be a few places where it's 55 and a few where it's 70. Outside of metro areas the speed limit on freeways is 70 in some places and 75 in others except where it's 80 (from i think it's mile marker 61 to mile marker 491) on I-10 and possibly a few other places....and of course the new raised limit of 85 on a toll road between Austin and San Antonio.

I was at a Barnes and Noble a couple of hours ago thumbing through one of the mainstream automobile magazines (Automobile, R & T, Motor Trend, etc) and I came upon an article about this 85 mph limit road. A map inset is included with the article. I learned the road is designated SH 130. The last press report I read about this road lead me to believe that the location of this road = west of I-35. I know the 85 mph limit started only last year, but I haven't bothered to seek it out because the thought of fighting traffic in Austin was always in the back of my mind. When I saw the map inset, I thought I've seen the interchange at HWY 290 during trips to and from Austin and I've even driven on it (but I know I didn't pay a toll). My impression was that this is a very well constructed highway. I just looked the highway up on Wikipedia. Wikipedia states that the 41 mile section between Lockhart and I-10 is the 85 MPH limit section, the highest posted speed limit in the U.S. This section just opened in late October 2012. I tried to find it on Mapquest, and this section isn't included yet. I tried Google (which I try to avoid), and this new section is on Google Maps.

This section is (in its entirety) East of I-35 (as is all of SH 130). The part of I-10 where it ends is pretty rural (IMO, from experience). I imagine the rest is as well. I have yet to make it to The Alamo (:redface:), even though I could do it on a long day trip (and I have spent some time in San Antonio on trips to and from California). When I do make it to The Alamo, I'll budget time to explore this 41 mile stretch of SH 130 as well.